Wire coiling apparatus

ABSTRACT

There is disclosed a wire coiling or winding apparatus comprising a turret table means and a plurality of winding mandrels rotatably and drivingly mounted at said turret table means. A drive mechanism drivingly engages with one of said winding mandrels when the turret table means has assumed a predetermined position. A winding spindle is continuously coupled with the drive mechanism, said winding spindle having an axis piercingly extending through the pitch circle of said turret table means and parallel to the axis of rotation thereof. Means are provided for mounting said winding mandrels at said turret table means for axial displacement, and there are means for selectively engaging and disengaging from said winding spindle through axial displacement that winding mandrel momentarily located at said predetermined position of said turret table means.

United States Patent Angst [4 1 June 27, 1972 [54] WIRE COILING APPARATUS 3,332,633 7/1967 Carson ..242/7.09 [72] Inventor: Walter Angst, Kloten, Switzerland Primary Examiner Bmy S Taylor [73] Assignee: Meteor AG, Glattbrugg, Switzerland Att0r"eywemer Kleeman [22] Filed: April 15, 1969 57 ABSTRACT Appl. No.: 816,256

There is disclosed a wire coiling or winding apparatus comprising a turret table means and a plurality of winding mandrels rotatably and drivingly mounted at said turret table means. A drive mechanism drivingly engages with one of said winding mandrels when the turret table means has assumed a predetermined position. A winding spindle is continuously coupled with the drive mechanism, said winding spindle having an axis piercingly extending through the pitch circle of said turret table means and parallel to the axis of rotation thereof. Means are provided for mounting said winding mandrels at said turret table means for axial displacement, and there are means for selectively engaging and disengaging from said winding spindle through axial displacement that winding mandrel momentarily located at said predetermined position of said turret table means.

5 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJuuzv m2 3, 672,409

SHEET 3 0F 3 Fig. 5

The instant invention broadly relates to coiling apparatus and in particular concerns a new and improved wire coiling apparatus of the type utilizing a plurality of mandrels.

Wire coiling apparatus having a plurality of winding mandrels are known in the prior-art, such winding mandrels being rotatably mounted at a turret table and capable of being driven. For example, in one of the prior-art apparatus of the type described, each mandrel has associated therewith a separate drive means as well as separate means for depositing and cutting the wire. Wire coiling apparatus of this typical type are thus relatively complex and expensive.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Thus, a need exists in this art for a wire coiling apparatus which does not exhibit the disadvantages of the prior art. It is the primary object of the instant invention to satisfy this need.

Further, more specific, yet equally important objects of the instant invention are the provision of a wire coiling apparatus which has a high efficiency or output; the provision of a wire coiling apparatus which is of relatively simple construction; the provision of a wire coiling apparatus which is relatively inexpensive to both manufacture and maintain.

Now, in order to implement these and still further objects of the present invention which will become apparent as the description proceeds, the invention is characterized by the provision of a wire winding or coiling apparatus having a plurality of winding mandrels rotatably and drivingly disposed on a turret table. A drive mechanism or installation is provided which is operatively connected with a given winding mandrel for a predetermined position of the turret table. A winding spindle is continuously coupled with the drive installation and has an axis which piercingly extends or penetrates the pitch circle of the turret table and which runs parallel to the rotational axis of same. The winding mandrels are further disposed in an axially displaceably fashion on the turret table. Means are provided for engaging and disengaging from the winding spindle, through axial displacement, the winding mandrel which is momentarily located at the predetermined position of the turret table. Accordingly, a single winding spindle cooperates to effect the winding process with each of a plurality of winding mandrels such that only one drive installation is required.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention itself will be better understood and other features and advantages thereof will become apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred inventive embodiment, such description making reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of the wire coiling apparatus of the instant invention with the turret attachment thereof being shown in plan, taken substantially along the line I-I of FIG. 2;

FIG. 2 depicts a view of the turret attachment taken in the direction of arrow A of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 depicts the winding spindle insert and the winding mandrel of the instant invention in winding position;

FIG. 4 depicts the winding spindle insert and the winding mandrel of FIG. 3 in a position wherein the wire is braked; and

FIG. 5 is a side view of the wire coiling apparatus, partly in section.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED INVENTIVE EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIG. 1, the wire coiling apparatus of the instant invention is generally characterized by reference numeral and is seen to include a drive motor 12, a transmission 14, as well as a supporting table 20. Transmission 14 engages with a wire guide installation 18 which is disposed on the supporting table 20 and with a spindle head 16. A cutting sleeve 26 is fixedly mounted for rotation at the spindle head 16, the cutting sleeve 26, in turn, holding a spindle sleeve 22 as well as a winding spindle 24. Cutting sleeve 26, spindle sleeve 22, as well as winding spindle 24 engage tightly with each other for rotation. Additionally, winding spindle 24 is mounted so as to be axially displaceable in the spindle sleeve 22 by means of a pin or journal 25. The frontal portion or side 29 of the spindle sleeve 22 as well as the frontal portion 27 of the winding spindle 24 which faces the spindle sleeve 22 collectively form a pair of clamping jaws.

A turret attachment generally designated by reference numeral 30 is secured to the supporting table 20, the turret attachment 30 being displaceable in the axial direction of the spindle head 16. This turret attachment 30 is further seen to have a supporting member 31. A shaft journal 34 is mounted in bearings 36 at the support member 31 parallel to the axis of spindle head 16. A disc-shaped turret table 32 is attached to the end of the shaft journal 34 which faces the transmission 14.

The other end of the shaft journal 34 is rigidly connected with a piston rod 38. A piston 40 is retained at the end of the piston rod 38 by means of a screw 42. A sleeve 44 is mounted on the piston rod 38 in a rigid fashion for rotation and a tooth gear 46, in turn, is displaceably mounted on the sleeve 44. The tooth gear 46 is positively connected with the sleeve 44 and thus with the shaft journal 34 by means of a claw clutch 47 disposed at the frontal side of the tooth gear 46. A cylinder 48 is connected to the side of the tooth gear 46 opposite from the claw clutch 47, cylinder 48 cooperating with piston 40 and being closed off by a lid 50. The space between the piston 40 and the lid 50 defines a pressure chamber 41. A pressure spring 45 is disposed and clamped between the frontal side of piston 40 facing the turret table 32 and the tooth gear 46. Tooth gear 46 further engages with a gear rack 52 which, in turn, is positively connected with the drive means 54 depicted in FIG. 2.

A plurality of winding mandrel supports, designated by reference numeral 55, are arranged on a pitch or partial circle extending concentrically to the central or center point of journal 34, the pitch circle being penetrated by the extended axis of the spindle head 16, with the axes of the winding mandrel supports 55 running parallel to the axis of spindle head 16. Each winding mandrel support 55 has a tail spindle or spindle sleeve 56 disposed in an axially displaceable fashion at the turret table 32 within its associated mandrel support 55, the tail spindle being biased to assume its terminal right-hand side position by means of a schematically represented spring 57, as shown in FIG. 5. A winding mandrel sleeve 60 is rotatably mounted via ball bearings 58 in the tail spindle 56 and in turn, takes up a winding mandrel 62 which is mounted to be axially displaceable relative to the winding mandrel sleeve 60. Shoulders 65 and 63 which face one another, are respectively provided at the winding mandrel sleeve 60 and at the circumference of the winding mandrel 62, as shown in FIG. 5, and a compression or pressure spring 64 is provided between these confronting shoulders 63 and 65.

The winding mandrel 62 contains a displaceably mounted plunger 66 within an axial bore 82, the plunger being secured by non-illustrated securing means in the retracted position thereof indicated in the drawings. In this position, a plunger pin or rod 88 rigidly connected with the rear face of the plunger 66 extends beyond the end of the winding mandrel 62 with its protruding end being disposed away from spindle head 16. Stripping or push-off pins 84 are disposed for cooperation with the frontal portion 90 of the plunger 66 and penetrate through the frontal side 92 of winding mandrel 62, emerging from said frontal side 92 when the plunger 66 is in its forward or advanced position. Furthermore, a winding support member 68 for the coil detachably secured in a coaxial position with respect to the winding mandrel 62 at the frontal side or face 92 of such winding mandrel 62.

The rear end of each tail spindle 56 which faces the support member 31 engages with a lever 70 which is pivotably mounted via a pin 72 at the turret table 32, the pivotal lever 70 extending approximately radially and at the inner end thereof being engaged by a tension spring 71. The outer end of the lever 70 carries a rotatably mounted cam follower roll or roller 74 which cooperates with a cam track 76, as best seen in FIG. 2. This cam track 76 is secured at the support member 31 and follows a portion of the circumference of the turret table 32. This cam or curved track 76, which is only conveniently depicted in FIG. 2, possesses such a cam surface that if the. roller 74 runs upon the cam track 76 during rotation of the turret table through 90 into the next indexed position, the winding mandrel 62, which is in its winding position, is moved forward via tail spindle 56 by means of the lever 70.

Mounted so as to be axially displaceable in a guide sleeve 77 whose axis coincides with that of spindle head 16, is a centering sleeve 78. Sleeve 77 is carried by the support member 31. This centering sleeve 78 is rigidly connected with a piston rod 79 of a pneumatically actuated cylinder means 80. The centering sleeve 78 carries a conically formed outer shoulder 81 at its frontal side which faces the tail spindle 56, this shoulder engaging with the hollow-shaped tail spindle 56 when the sleeve 78 is moved forward by means of cylinder 80. In this manner, it is possible to achieve operation such that the turret table 32, within the play prevailing at the gear rack 52 and gear 46, is turned or positionally oriented such that the tail spindle 56 and thus the winding mandrel 62 assume a position which is precisely coaxial to the winding head 16.

Displaced in the circumferential direction by 180 with respect to the cylinder 80, there is arranged an additional pneumatically actuated cylinder 96 which is mounted at the support member 31. Cylinder 96 possesses a piston rod 98 cooperating with plunger 88 such as to eject a completely wound coil S located on the winding support member 68 from such support member.

The wire guide, which is not illustrated herein, is intended to be disposed above the winding spindle 24 in a radial plane extending through the winding space 100 formed between the frontal side of the winding spindle 24 and the frontal side of the winding mandrel 62. Depending upon the axial extension of the winding space, the wire guide can be moved forward and backward in order to deposit the wire winding. With spools having small axial extensions, it is also possible, if desired, to perform the above operation without the oscillating movement of the wire guide.

The preferred embodiment of the instant invention as depicted is intended to wind coreless coils or spools S for which the wire D is taken from a non-illustrated wire supply roll located above wire guide installation or member 18, the wire then being guided through the wire guide. When the novel apparatus is placed into operation, the wire end is placed between the clamping jaws 27 and 29 of the winding spindle 24. The wire end is clamped between the jaws 27 and 29 as soon as the winding mandrel 62 is brought into a forwardly moved position depicted in FIG. 3 and by actuating cylinder 80 this winding mandrel is simultaneously also centered. Under the control of cylinder 80, winding mandrel 62 moves still further in the direction of the winding spindle 24 until it reaches the position depicted in FIG. 4 whereupon the mandrel then returns to the position depicted in FIG. 3 under the control of a spring acting upon winding sleeve 22. The wire D, during the winding operation, first extends into the exterior radial plane defined by the position of the wire guide, then extends into the winding space 100 as the winding spindle 24 turns, which spindle also entrains the winding mandrel 62 through friction via the spool support member 68.

If the coil or spool S is completely wound in the winding space 100, the drive is then stopped and the winding spindle 22 and the cutting sleeve 26 entrained thereby are secured in a predetermined circumferential position by non-illustrated locking means. At the same time, the centering sleeve 78 is pulled back by cylinder 80 such that the winding mandrel 62 moves back into the initial position shown in the drawing under the influence of the return spring 57 acting upon tail spindle 56. When this initial position is resumed, the turret table 32 is rotated or indexed by means of the pneumatically activatable cylinder 54 and the gear rack 52, respectively. During this phase, as aforementioned, the winding mandrel 62 is again moved forward into the wire guide plane, this action taking place as a result of the travel of the lever roll or cam follower roller 74 onto cam track 76. As the turret table 32 turns, additional wire D is pulled off the wire supply roll since the coil S remains on the winding support member 78. Wire D runs from the winding mandrel or winding support member, respectively, supporting the coil in the wire guide plane to the wire guide such that, after the turret table has completed a turn, the wire again comes to lie between the clamping jaws 27 and 29 of the spindle sleeve 22 and winding spindle 24, whereupon the wire is clamped again as the winding mandrel 62 moves forwardly. During the forward movement of the winding mandrel 62 into the position depicted in FIG. 4, the clamping jaws 27 and 29 are moved back behind the cutting edges 26 of the winding sleeve. The wire portion D coming from the wire guide thereby reaches recess 26" of the cutting sleeve, while the wire connection D representing the winding end of the completed coil or spool S is cut off by the cutting edge 26' at the discharge or outlet side from the clamping jaws. A new winding process can thus begin after the winding mandrel 62 has returned to the position depicted in FIG. 3.

So as to prevent the winding end of the completed coil from jumping up after cutting the wire end D' by the cutting edge 26', the coil is pre-heated during the winding process by hot air from a non-illustrated apparatus. Since, in the instant embodiment, the wire to be wound is contemplated to have a thermoplastic cover, the windings would thus be bonded or welded respectively, with one another due to the heat.

The cylinder arrangement formed by parts 48 and 50 which is connected with tooth gear 46 is displaced during the winding process by pneumatic action such that the claw clutch 47 disengages from sleeve or journal 44. In this disengaged or uncoupled position, the cylinder drive 54 is actuated such that the piston rod defining the rack 52 is pulled back while rotating the tooth gear 46. The cylinder arrangement 48, 50 now can be unloaded in the retracted position of rack 52 such that such cylinder arrangement 48,50 50 again returns into the initial position where it is operatively coupled with the claw clutch 47 under the action of spring 45, and the apparatus is then ready for the next rotation or indexing of the turret table 32.

As aforementioned, the completed winding coil is ejected from the respective winding mandrel 62 when such mandrel has traveled a distance of relative to its winding position. During this travel, or at the end ofthe travel, and prior to ejection of the completed coil or spool, the spool can be treated further, if desired. For example, it is possible to provide an insulating cover such as adhesive tape on the spool or coil.

The winding spindle 24 depicted in the illustrated inventive embodiment, can also be utilized with a winding apparatus which has only one winding mandrel 62 which is axially displaceable together with a tail spindle 56 disposed in a tail stock. An application of the instant invention as described herein is advantageous for non-automatic winding apparatus of simple type.

As should now be apparent, the objects initially set forth at the outset of this specification have been successfully achieved.

What is claimed is:

1. A wire winding apparatus, comprising a turret table means, a plurality of winding mandrels rotatably and drivingly mounted at said turret table means, a drive mechanism drivingly engaging with one of said winding mandrels when said turret table means has assumed a predetermined position, a winding spindle continuously coupled with said drive mechanism, said winding spindle having an axis piercingly extending through the pitch circle of said turret table means and parallel to the axis of rotation thereof, means for mounting said winding mandrels at said turret table means for axial displacement, cutting means provided on said winding spindle for cutting the wire portion connecting with an already wound spool of wire, and means for selectively engaging and disengaging from said winding spindle that winding mandrel momentarily located at said predetermined position of said turret table means by carrying out relative axial displacement movement between said winding spindle and said winding mandrel momentarily located at said predetermined position.

2. A wire winding apparatus, comprising a turret table means, a plurality of winding mandrels rotatably and drivingly mounted at said turret table means, a drive mechanism drivingly engaging with one of said winding mandrels when said turret table means has assumed a predetermined position, a winding spindle continuously coupled with said drive mechanism, said winding spindle having an axis piercingly extending through the pitch circle of said turret table means and parallel to the axis of rotation thereof, means for mounting said winding mandrels at said turret table means for axial displacement, means for selectively engaging and disengaging from said winding spindle that winding mandrel momentarily located at said predetermined position of said turret table means through relative axial displacement of said winding spindle and said winding mandrel momentarily located at said predetermined position, and means for axially displacing said winding mandrels mounted at and moving with said turret table means through a further predetermined position.

3. A wire winding apparatus as defined in claim 1, further including means provided for said winding spindle for fixedly clamping the wire to be wound.

4. A wire winding apparatus, comprising a turret table means, a plurality of winding mandrels rotatably and drivingly mounted at said turret table means, a drive mechanism drivingly engaging with one of said winding mandrels when said turret table means has assumed a predetermined position, a winding spindle continuously coupled with said drive mechanism, said winding spindle having an axis piercingly extending through the pitch circle of said turret table means and parallel to the axis of rotation thereof, means for mounting said winding mandrels at said turret table means for axial displacement, means for selectively engaging and disengaging from said winding spindle that winding mandrel momentarily located at said predetermined position of said turret table means through relative axial displacement of said winding spindle and said winding mandrel momentarily located at said predetermined position, and axially displaceable insert means rigidly connected for rotation with said winding spindle, said axially displaceable insert means including wire clamping means efi'ectual during axial displacement thereof, a cutting sleeve member which cooperates with said insert means carried by said winding spindle.

5. A wire winding apparatus, comprising a turret table means, a plurality of winding mandrels rotatably and drivingly mounted at said turret table means, a drive mechanism drivingly engaging with one of said winding mandrels when said turret table means has assumed a predetermined position, a winding spindle continuously coupled with said drive mechanism, said winding spindle having an axis piercingly extending through the pitch circle of said turret table means and parallel to the axis of rotation thereof, means for mounting said winding mandrels at said turret table means for axial displacement, means for selectively engaging and disengaging from said winding spindle that winding mandrel momentarily located at said predetermined position of said turret table means through relative axial displacement of said winding spindle and said winding mandrel momentarily located at said predetermined position, and insert means provided for said winding spindle, said insert means possessing two portions which are displaceable relative to one another and carrying cooperating wire clamping jaw means, one of said portions being constructed to entrain a winding mandrel situated opposite said winding spindle. 

1. A wire winding apparatus, comprising a turret table means, a plurality of winding mandrels rotatably and drivingly mounted at said turret table means, a drive mechanism drivingly engaging with one of said winding mandrels when said turret table means has assumed a predetermined position, a winding spindle continuously coupled with said drive mechanism, said winding spindle having an axis piercingly extending through the pitch circle of said turret table means and parallel to the axis of rotation thereof, means for mounting said winding mandrels at said turret table means for axial displacement, cutting means provided on said winding spindle for cutting the wire portion connecting with an already wound spool of wire, and means for selectively engaging and disengaging from said winding spindle that winding mandrel momentarily located at said predetermined position of said turret table means by carrying out relative axial displacement movement between said winding spindle and said winding mandrel momentarily located at said predetermined position.
 2. A wire winding apparatus, comprising a turret table means, a plurality of winding mandrels rotatably and drivingly mounted at said turret table means, a drive mechanism drivingly engaging with one of said winding mandrels when said turret table means has assumed a predetermined position, a winding spindle continuously coupled with said drive mechanism, said winding spindle having an axis piercingly extending through the pitch circle of said turret table means and parallel to the axis of rotation thereof, means for mounting said winding mandrels at said turret table means for axial displacement, means for selectively engaging and disengaging from said winding spindle that winding mandrel momentarily located at said predetermined position of said turret table means through relative axial displacement of said winding spindle and said winding mandrel momentarily located at said predetermined position, and means for axially displacing said winding mandrels mounted at and moving with said turret table means through a further predetermined position.
 3. A wire winding apparatus as defined in claim 1, further including means provided for said winding spindle for fixedly clamping the wire to be wound.
 4. A wire winding apparatus, comprising a turret table means, a plurality of winding mandrels rotatably and drivingly mounted at said turret table means, a drive mechanism drivingly engaging with one of said winding mandrels when saId turret table means has assumed a predetermined position, a winding spindle continuously coupled with said drive mechanism, said winding spindle having an axis piercingly extending through the pitch circle of said turret table means and parallel to the axis of rotation thereof, means for mounting said winding mandrels at said turret table means for axial displacement, means for selectively engaging and disengaging from said winding spindle that winding mandrel momentarily located at said predetermined position of said turret table means through relative axial displacement of said winding spindle and said winding mandrel momentarily located at said predetermined position, and axially displaceable insert means rigidly connected for rotation with said winding spindle, said axially displaceable insert means including wire clamping means effectual during axial displacement thereof, a cutting sleeve member which cooperates with said insert means carried by said winding spindle.
 5. A wire winding apparatus, comprising a turret table means, a plurality of winding mandrels rotatably and drivingly mounted at said turret table means, a drive mechanism drivingly engaging with one of said winding mandrels when said turret table means has assumed a predetermined position, a winding spindle continuously coupled with said drive mechanism, said winding spindle having an axis piercingly extending through the pitch circle of said turret table means and parallel to the axis of rotation thereof, means for mounting said winding mandrels at said turret table means for axial displacement, means for selectively engaging and disengaging from said winding spindle that winding mandrel momentarily located at said predetermined position of said turret table means through relative axial displacement of said winding spindle and said winding mandrel momentarily located at said predetermined position, and insert means provided for said winding spindle, said insert means possessing two portions which are displaceable relative to one another and carrying cooperating wire clamping jaw means, one of said portions being constructed to entrain a winding mandrel situated opposite said winding spindle. 